News in the West by Gilad Atzmon

The socialist victory in Spain is significant of a dramatic change. We had come to expect right wing leaders to always be the first to benefit from Islamic terror. Both Bush and Sharon enjoy growing popularity following attacks against their peoples. The collapse of Blair's popularity is easily realised in terms of the lack of Islamic terror in the UK, as the British are not at all convinced that they are victims of such terror. Apparently, the devastating formula that suggests a link between Right wing leaders and Islamic militants no longer applies. The Spanish people proved yesterday that a new form of citizenship is taking place, a citizenship grounded on a deeper realization of the notion of democracy. In a true democracy the citizens are sharing responsibility with their elected government. The Spanish people have realised that they were punished for their governments' mistakes, in particular the collaboration with Bush and Blair. The Spanish people who ousted the ruling Popular Party did it because they grasped that they were anything but innocent. In fact, to be a citizen in a democratic state is a heavy burden. It is a duty charged with a serious form of responsibility.

But then, who is the real winner of yesterday's Spanish election? Looking into the glorious Socialist victory reveals a simple truth: the real champions are the Islamic fundamentalists, those who stand behind the devastating and murderous Madrid attack. For the first time Islamic fundamentalists have proved that they can dictate a political change in the West. Now, two and a half years since 9/11, and two and a half years since the declaration of the 'War against Terror', it is this unbeatable terror that unexpectedly transformed the political reality of a major European state. This must be devastating news for our leading warmongers: Mr Bush and Mr Blair. Being pathetically uncreative, they will doubtless impose some new security measures in the train and underground stations. But it is not going to help. Nothing of the sort is going to help. We are simply far too vulnerable. We are not ready for this war and we are definitely not ready to die. When you are not ready to die you can never win, at the most you can try to kill your foe from afar like a coward, with clever bombs and smart cruise missiles.

It's rather sad, but it seems as if all that is left for us is just to wait like sitting ducks for whoever comes to redeem us from the crimes committed in our names by our corrupted governments. I assume that sooner rather than later every Briton and American will realise the truly devastating meaning of the temporality of life in the age of right wing idiocy. It is getting closer and closer. I imagine that most of us sense the emerging danger. But rather than simply taking a fatalist viewpoint, I am about to suggest an alternative practical act. It is quite rational to imply that if we cannot win this war we might benefit from admitting a defeat. If our leaders refuse to see that the battle is lost why can't we celebrate our 'freedom of speech' and raise a shiny white flag as high as we can. In practical terms the only thing left for us is to appeal to Al-Qaeda for mercy. We must stand up and vocally admit that we realise what their war is all about, that we realise that the measures of oppression imposed upon more than one billion Muslims merely exists so we can drive our powerful thirsty cars. We must acknowledge that we realise that the Western support of the Israeli government is morally unacceptable and